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Can Genetics Impact Fertility?

A medical study in the last year has found that genetic defects affect half of all infertility cases.(1) This brings into focus the significance of genetics for family building purposes in terms of fertility, conception, pregnancy and birth (and not just from a disease and health perspective). This can make it important to consider a range of genetic, medical and legal questions with geneticists, clinical and legal professionals. Should I undergo genetic testing to see if I might have difficulties with pregnancy or pass a genetic disorder on to my child? Should I undergo genetic counselling before conception? Should I get my embryos genetically screened before implantation? Should I undergo fertility preservation treatment? How can I maximise my chances of successful conception, birth or family completion? How can I maximise my prospects of having a genetically related child? Should I undergo prenatal testing? How can I legally protect my stored eggs, sperm and embryos? How can I successfully navigate fertility treatment law in the UK? What will happen to my stored eggs, sperm or embryos and my genetic legacy if I die?
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Declaration of Parentage: Resolving Birth Registration, Parental Status & Identity

We are currently seeing heightened levels of uncertainty and change around the world, ranging from economic challenges to seismic shifts in geopolitics and rapid developments in artificial intelligence, on-demand digital technology, genetics and DNA testing, precision healthcare and assisted reproduction. These can impact all stages of the life cycle from pre-conception through pregnancy, birth, family life and end-of-life care. This evolving landscape can create complex issues about family formation, personal identity, birth registration, legal and biological parenthood, genetic and health issues and relationships with family and relatives. In turn, this can require effective legal strategies to address issues about personal identity, genetic testing, legal and biological parentage, birth registration and family dynamics.
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Judicial Warning & Naming 0f Serial Sperm Donor ‘Who Fathered 180 Children’

In a recently published family law case In the Matter of D [2023] EWFC 333, His Honour Judge Jonathan Furness KC took the unusual step to publicly name a serial sperm donor and warn the public and vulnerable women seeking to get pregnant of the dangers of unregulated private sperm donation. This followed a highly contested 2-year legal battle, described as a 'nightmare' and 'horror story', between a female same-sex couple and a prolific sperm donor who applied to court to be named on the child's birth certificate, obtain parental responsibility and contact with the child.
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Genetic Testing: A Non-Biological Father, Mistaken Birth Registration & Parental Responsibility Void Ab Initio

The recent case of KL v BA [2025] EWHC 102 (Fam) brings into focus the complex legal issues that arose when genetic testing showed that a non-biological father was registered in error on a child's birth certificate. The central issue in the case was whether the effect of a declaration of non-parentage in respect of the non-biological father who had mistakenly been registered as the child's father rendered his acquisition of parental responsibility void ab initio (never having had any legal effect) or whether this could only be removed by court order.
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